ALLEN PARK -- Contract years sometimes bring out the best in players, as they push for that next payday. But contract years also have a way of amplifying the pressure to perform.

That pressure weighed heavily last season on the Detroit Lions' linebacker corps, with DeAndre Levy, Justin Durant and Ashlee Palmer all in the final year of their respective deals.

Brandon Pettigrew, shown using a tennis ball during a recent practice, has worked hard this offseason to improve his hands. Justin Rogers | MLive.com

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is among the headliners of this year's 24 contract-year players, and he's determined to not let the fear of the unknown dictate his season.

"I think about the contract year thing, sure," he said. "But everyone's coming at me saying it's a big year, and the thing is, every year is a big year. I just can't treat it any different. Go into the year as good as you can and take care of business."

Pettigrew is coming off a season in which his production dipped in nearly every category from 2010 and '11, including receptions (59), yards (567) and touchdowns (three). He also was credited with nine drops, third among the league's tight ends.

Now he enters the final year of a six-year, $14.6 million deal he signed before the 2009 season. The club holds an option for next season.

The pressure would seem to be building for Pettigrew to put last season behind him. But he says that's not the case.

"Not at all," he said of feeling pressure. "I'm treating it just like any other season. I just want to be consistent, and like always, just be better than the year before. Do things a little bit better, and I'll be at the top of my game."

Sometimes that can be easier said than done. Detroit's linebackers know that, after contract situations made the group more unsettled last season.

Levy and Palmer ended up re-signing, but Durant left for Dallas.

"They weren't an overt distraction, but that affects a guy," linebackers coach Matt Burke said of the contract years. "I feel a lot more settled now. We got a long-term deal worked out with Lev and he's in a good spot -- he's healthy and his mind's right."

Pettigrew will have something those guys maybe didn't: New help.

Tailback Reggie Bush was added to the mix this offseason, and his speed in the rushing and passing games will force defenses to soften their coverage on Calvin Johnson. That's a big reason why the club spent $16 million on Bush.

But his addition could have the same effect on Pettigrew. As defenses have to expend more resources on defending the backfield, as well as downfield, that could leave the tight ends open in the middle.

"He can line up outside or in the slot, and it just creates matchup problems," Pettigrew said of Bush. "He takes some of that double-team heat off whoever they're trying to double-team. He gives us a chance to get more open. Whatever it is.

"We already saw it the first game, with Reggie in the flat and (the Jets) sagged off Calvin deep and Matt (Stafford) found him. It's things like that that make the difference."

Pettigrew said he's approaching this critical season with a bit of advice from offensive coordinator Scott Linehan: "Push for perfection, and settle for excellence."